About a year ago, we finished a 500 square foot addition on the second floor of our house. While the kids’ toys were getting smaller (polly pockets and lego’s), the kids were are bigger and more active. Our hope was that a new playroom would give them a place to run, jump, play and be loud. And a place where the noise and mess could be hidden behind a closed door!
Here is our house before construction began…
The house before...
And three short months later, construction was complete!
The house after...
We live in a part of the country where we often see this in our backyard…
Rainy weather isn’t always conducive to spending time outdoors, so we created a small indoor jungle gym in the new playroom. We were inspired by some friends who did something similar in their basement (OK, maybe ‘inspired’ isn’t the correct word….we basically copied their idea!).
The rings are from Ikea and were relatively inexpensive. The line is called Ekorre, but unfortunately, I cannot find it on their website anymore. A set of two rings was $10 and I believe the ladder was $20. Hopefully they will carry it again soon because the price really can’t be beat!
Installing them was easy (thanks to the help of our builder!). I purchased two 2×4′s and painted them the same color as our ceiling. Lag bolt screws were screwed into the 2×4′s at even increments.
via lowes.com
Our builder drilled the 2×4′s into the cross beams in the ceiling, using giant screws to secure them into place. Then, we clipped the Ikea rings and ladder onto the lag screw bolts.
They are so secure that Dan and I can even hang from them! But mostly, it’s kids under the age of 8 that are caught swinging.
Thank you to our friends for the great idea! The rings have been a great indoor activity on many rainy days!
Jen
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Oh my goodness your kids are lucky! We have a playroom, but it’s a pre-fab “sunroom” type addition. How awesome that you are able to have all that room!!!
That is so neat! I have never seen anything like it — what a fabulous idea!
Thanks for sharing the inspiration.
Fun idea! Perfect for those rainy days!
I had to laugh at your puddle picture. My yard has been a giant flooded mess too. I love your addition. We’ve considered a bonus room above our garage too. Now you have me thinking about it again!
Becca
homeiswheremystorybegins.com
Holy Cow!! HOW FUN IS THAT?! I would have loved that when I was little!
Thanks for linking up to this week’s Catch a Glimpse party! I will be featuring this tomorrow!
what a fun idea
for giving the rug rats
a way to blow off some energy
thanks for sharing
at Fridays Unfolded!
alison
Such a fun idea! Brilliant!
What fun! I”ll have to show this to friend’s of ours that have 5 young children and are going to fix up their barn as a play space.
OK – y’all are definitely going for parents of the year!! This is so great – i wish i’d had this for my boys about 5 years ago!!
Hi! Visiting from sundae scoop! This is such a fun idea! I would love to have a indoor play area like this for my kiddos. Thanks for sharing
If you get a chance I would love for you to share this at my Friday link party going on now
OMG!! I’m so glad my kids aren’t here to see this!! They would be begging for it!!! That awesome and your house is beautiful!! Came by from A Simply Klassic Home and as soon as I’m done writing this, I’m following!!
Pretty darn awesome. I sure I had a room full of these so I could “hang” around on . so glad my kids are grown, so I don’t have to put them up. Very creative, I bet your kids love them. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday’s Best.
We would have loved this is our house growing up! We’d love for you to share it at our Beautify It Monday Link party going on now at BringingBeauty.blogpsot.com!
This looks like SOO much fun! I bet they love it!
Your kids must be having a ball in the new space!!! How fun.
I looked to do something similar in our newly refinished basement, but you are right, Ikea is no longer selling these items. We did end up with hanging chairs, but they don’t really get the energy out like the rings and rope ladder would! Enjoy your new room!
Looks like so much fun! My daughter takes gymnastics and so we are creating our own little gym here at home too!
Looks like your kids love it! How wonderful that you have this space for them to play.
Deborah
ooohhh, this is great. What a good idea.
We actually built a racquetball court here at our home. It’s also the same dimensions for walleyball, so we play that a lot too. Then we hung a big rope from the top of the ceiling (which is very very high) and tied knots in it so that they could climb the rope when they wanted to test their strength. Not everyone is able to have their own indoor gym but it’s been great for our family and others that come to play, too.
I think it’s good to make home a nice place to be like you did. The kids will have great memories of this.
Oh my goodness! You make me want to build on to our house
My son would love that although, he still LOVES his legos. Thanks so much for sharing at Toot Your Horn Tuesday 
Your addition looks great! I bet the kids are loving all the extra play area! Thanks for linking up at SweetTalkin’ Sunday!